JP4839205B2 - Fluorite manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing fluorite (; CaF ₂ , calcium fluoride) that can be used as a lens material used for optical lenses, for example, semiconductor lithography.

Fluorite crystals (CaF ₂ crystals) have very small chromatic dispersion, lower refractive index and dispersion ratio than general optical glass, and special partial dispersion characteristics (: abnormal partial dispersion, Abbe number: 95) ), An achromatic lens (apochromat), a window plate such as an infrared analysis device and an excimer laser, a TV camera lens and a microscope lens, and semiconductor lithography (devices for transferring a fine pattern onto a wafer) Widely used for lens of equipment (including scanner).

The stepper (reduction projection type exposure apparatus) responsible for miniaturization in semiconductor lithography equipment has been shortening the wavelength of the light source in order to increase the resolution, and a stepper using an excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm) as the light source has been developed. As a result, fluorite has been attracting attention as a lens material suitable for this.
However, a lens material used for such a high-precision stepper is required to have a low strain birefringence in order to increase the resolution. For this purpose, a homogeneous fluorescent material with very little strain (residual strain) remaining in the material is required. Although it needs to be a stone, it is not easy to make such fluorite.

Fluorite is generally produced by growing a CaF ₂ crystal by a single crystal growth method such as the Bridgman method and then heat-treating (also called annealing) the obtained CaF ₂ crystal. By heat-treating the CaF ₂ crystal obtained in the crystal growth step, the residual stress introduced during the crystal growth can be removed, and the residual strain (strain birefringence) in the CaF ₂ crystal can be reduced. Therefore, the heat treatment step is particularly important for producing fluorite having the above-described high optical characteristics.

Therefore, when examining the fluorite manufacturing technology by paying attention to the heat treatment process, the conventional heat treatment method arranges the CaF ₂ crystal obtained in the crystal growth process in a heat treatment furnace and sets the furnace temperature to a predetermined heat treatment. After reaching the temperature and reaching the heat treatment temperature, in order to reduce and suppress the temperature distribution (temperature difference) in the crystal as much as possible, the temperature is precisely controlled and the heat treatment temperature is maintained for a certain period of time, and then gradually The method of cooling was common. For example, in Patent Document 1, after holding a fluorite single crystal at a first temperature (1080 ° C.) in a range of 1020 ° C. to 1150 ° C. for a predetermined time, the first temperature (1080 ° C.) to the second temperature ( A method of lowering the temperature at a cooling rate of 1.0 (° C./hour) or less to 700 ° C. or less is disclosed, and Patent Document 2 discloses that a fluoride single crystal having crystal growth is put in an annealing furnace, and a crucible is placed at 900 to A method of heating to 1000 ° C. and heating for 20 hours or more is disclosed, and Patent Document 3 discloses a method of cooling the interior of the heat treatment furnace in a vacuum atmosphere, holding the heat treatment at 1000 ° C. for 24 hours, and then cooling. .

JP 2001-335398 A JP 2003-238293 A, [0038], etc. JP 2004-99409 A, [0055] etc.

The present invention, by devising a heat treatment process of the CaF ₂ crystal, it is possible to effectively reduce the Ibitsufuku refraction, new firefly capable less Ibitsufuku refraction (strain) to obtain a homogeneous CaF ₂ crystal It is intended to provide a method for producing stone.

In the heat treatment of the CaF ₂ crystal obtained in the crystal growth step, the present invention raises the furnace temperature to reach the range of 1000 to 1350 ° C., and then lowers and raises the temperature in the temperature range of 900 to 1350 ° C. The present invention proposes a method for producing fluorite characterized by performing at least two ascending / descending cycles in which the temperatures are alternately changed and subsequently cooling.

In the present invention, an elevating cycle is performed in a temperature region lower than the melting point of fluorite (about 1420 ° C.), and a temperature gradient is positively introduced into the CaF ₂ crystal and the temperature gradient is periodically reversed. Accordingly, dislocations that are microscopic defects existing in the crystal can be reduced, the homogeneity of the crystal can be enhanced macroscopically, and the residual strain (strain birefringence) can be effectively reduced.

  According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, in a crystal substrate having a <100> -oriented parallel plane (referred to as “<100> -oriented crystal substrate”) which is said to be easily distorted and difficult to remove, a light incident surface is formed. The average value of the strain birefringence value per thickness at a wavelength of 633 nm in the <100> orientation with respect to the (100) plane is 0.4 nm / cm to 1.8 nm / cm, and the strain duplex per thickness at the wavelength of 633 nm. A fluorite having a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of refraction (: PV: peak-to-valley) of 4.0 nm / cm or less (see FIG. 3A), or a parallel plane of <111> orientation The average value of the strain birefringence value per thickness at a wavelength of 633 nm in the <111> orientation is 0 when the light incident surface is the (111) plane in the crystal substrate having “<111> orientation crystal substrate”. .2 nm / cm to 0 A fluorite having a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the strain birefringence value per thickness at a wavelength of 633 nm (: PV) of 3.2 nm / cm or less (see FIG. 3B) is obtained. be able to.

As described above, the fluorite obtained by the production method of the present invention is macroscopically crystallized on a <100> -oriented crystal substrate or a <111> -oriented crystal substrate which is said to be easily strained and difficult to remove. Is a fluorite having a high homogeneity and extremely low residual strain (strain birefringence). For example, lens materials such as TV camera lenses, microscope lenses, infrared analysis window materials, lenses used in semiconductor lithography apparatuses, Lenses for steppers such as ArF (Argon Fluoride) excimer laser exposure equipment and F ₂ (Fluorine) excimer laser exposure equipment that require advanced optical characteristics, such as exposure equipment using lasers in the ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet wavelength region as light sources It can be suitably used as a material.

In the present invention, the temperature during the heat treatment means the atmospheric temperature in the furnace unless otherwise specified.
In the present invention, “having a <100> azimuth parallel plane” means that the parallel plane is the (100) plane or a plane parallel to the (100) plane. The same applies to “having a plane”.
Further, in the present specification, when “X to Y” (X and Y are arbitrary numbers) is indicated, it means “X or more and Y or less” unless otherwise specified, and at the same time, “preferably larger than X, Y It also includes the meaning of “smaller”.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

In the present embodiment, the CaF ₂ crystal obtained in the crystal growth step is placed in a heat treatment furnace, the furnace temperature is raised to reach the temperature rise target temperature, and then the temperature is lowered in a predetermined heat treatment temperature region. Fluorite is produced through a heat treatment step of performing at least two ascending / descending cycles for alternately raising the temperature and a cooling step of cooling following the heat treatment step (hereinafter, this production method is referred to as “the present production method”). .

<Raw material>
In this manufacturing method, the raw material of calcium fluoride (CaF ₂ ) is not particularly limited, and all raw materials known as CaF ₂ raw materials can be used. As an example, a powdered CaF ₂ raw material and a scavenger or a fluorinating agent, that is, a reaction material that removes impurities (mainly oxygen) in fluorite can be mentioned.

The CaF ₂ raw material may be a known CaF ₂ raw material. In order to produce a CaF ₂ crystal used in the ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet region, it is preferable to use an artificially synthesized high-purity CaF ₂ powder as a raw material. An example is powdered CaF ₂ obtained by synthesizing calcium carbonate and hydrogen fluoride. However, it is not limited to such a synthesis method.

Examples of scavengers or fluorinating agents include zinc fluoride (ZnF ₂ ), lead fluoride (PbF ₂ ), bismuth fluoride (BiF ₃ ), sodium fluoride (NaF), and lithium fluoride (LiF). be able to.

<Crystal growth process>
This production method does not particularly limit the method of growing the CaF ₂ crystal. For example, the Bridgman-Stockbarger method (also referred to as “BS method”), Czochralski (also referred to as “CZ method”), zone melt method, improved methods thereof, and other melt growth methods can be appropriately employed.

  Incidentally, the BS method is a method in which raw materials are put in a crucible and melted, and a single crystal is grown from the bottom of the crucible while lowering the crucible. The crystal growing apparatus is relatively inexpensive and has a feature that a single crystal having a large diameter can be grown relatively easily. On the other hand, it is difficult to control the crystal growth orientation, and an excessive stress is applied during crystal growth or cooling, so that it is said that the stress distribution remains in the crystal and strain birefringence is easily induced. According to the present invention, such strain birefringence remaining in the crystal can be reduced. Conversely, the BS method is a crystal growth method that can further enjoy the effects of the heat treatment step of the present invention. It can also be said.

  The CZ method is a method in which a raw material is put in a crucible and melted, and a seed (seed crystal) is brought into contact with a molten liquid surface to grow (crystallize) while rotating the single crystal. The CZ method is said to facilitate the growth of the target crystal orientation because it is possible to identify and crystallize the crystal orientation.

When used as an optical element for a short wavelength laser, the concentration of metal impurities in the CaF ₂ crystal is required to be extremely small. For example, the amount of impurities such as iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) is preferably 10 ppm or less, particularly 1 ppm or less, and particularly preferably about 0.05 ppm or less.
As an example of the purification treatment method for reducing the concentration of metal impurities in the raw material in this way, the solution is made into a solution at a temperature of about 50 ° C. or higher using a clean acid such as hydrofluoric acid or nitric acid, and the temperature is gradually lowered to room temperature. The method of reducing can be mentioned.

  The crystal grown as described above is preferably cut out so that a surface having a predetermined size and a predetermined orientation appears as necessary, and subjected to a heat treatment step. In this embodiment, the crystal is cut out so that the crystal appears parallel to the (100) plane or the (111) plane, and processed into a parallel plane polygonal shape having a predetermined size (required effective diameter) (this is This is referred to as a “crystal substrate” and is subjected to a heat treatment step.

<Heat treatment process>
In the heat treatment step, the CaF ₂ crystal substrate (“<100> orientation crystal substrate” or “<111> orientation crystal substrate” or “<111> orientation crystal substrate”) grown and processed in the crystal growth step as described above, and “CaF _At least a raising / lowering cycle in which the temperature in the furnace is raised and the temperature rise target temperature is reached, and the temperature is lowered and raised alternately in a predetermined heat treatment temperature region. Perform twice.
The above furnace temperature means the atmospheric temperature in the furnace unless otherwise specified.

The structure of the heat treatment furnace to be used is not limited, and a heat treatment furnace having a known structure can be used. As an example, a heat treatment furnace as shown in FIG. 1 can be used. In this figure, 1 is an airtight furnace, 2 is a heat insulating material, 3 is a support, 4 is a carbon container, 5 is a CaF ₂ crystal substrate, 6 is a heater, 7 is a temperature sensor, and 8 is a temperature control device.

The heat treatment furnace includes a hermetic furnace 1 capable of maintaining the inside in an airtight state, the atmosphere in the airtight furnace 1 can be adjusted to a predetermined state, and the temperature in the airtight furnace 1 can be controlled with high accuracy according to a determined temperature profile. If it is a thing, it will not specifically limit a structure.
In order to adjust the atmosphere in the hermetic furnace 1 to a predetermined state, for example, an exhaust system and a gas introduction system are attached to the hermetic furnace 1, and the gas introduction system is configured to exhaust the gas in the hermetic furnace 1 by the exhaust system. What is necessary is just to adjust and introduce a predetermined amount of predetermined gas.
In addition, in order to control the temperature in the airtight furnace 1 with high accuracy according to the determined temperature profile, for example, a plurality of heaters 6 are arranged along the inner wall of the heat insulating material 2 and the carbon installed in the airtight furnace 1 is used. A temperature sensor 7 is installed at an appropriate height in the vicinity of the outer wall of the container 4, for example, at an upper layer portion, a middle layer portion, and a lower layer portion, and the temperature sensor 7 and the heater 6 are connected via a temperature control device 8. Thus, control may be performed according to the temperature profile input to the temperature control device 8.

When the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5 is arranged in the heat treatment furnace, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of carbon containers 4 are arranged in the airtight furnace 1 so as to be stacked in the vertical direction, and these carbon containers 4 The CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5 may be accommodated in each of these.

Here, the carbon container 4 is composed of, for example, a bowl-shaped container body having an opening and a lid, and the container body can be stacked up and down, and the bottom of the container body stacked on the lower side is the lower side. A structure that functions as a lid of the container main body and that only needs to be attached to the uppermost container main body can be used.
The carbon container 4 may be made of a general carbon material such as a carbon extruded product or a CIP molded product.

The atmosphere in the heat treatment, that is, the atmosphere in the airtight furnace 1 and the carbon container 4 may be a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere such as argon (Ar). Among these, an inert gas atmosphere such as argon is preferable, and an atmosphere obtained by mixing and injecting a fluorine-based gas (for example, CF ₄ gas) into argon gas is preferable.

Further, when the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5 is stored in the carbon container 4, the fluorinating agent may be stored together with the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5. Examples of the fluorinating agent include Teflon (registered trademark), acidic ammonium fluoride (NH ₄ F · HF), lead fluoride, zinc fluoride, or the like, or vaporize the fluorine component by raising the temperature. Substances that can be used can be used.
This fluorinating agent is used to prevent oxygen and moisture remaining on the surface of the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5 and inside the carbon container 4 from reacting with the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5, but is not necessarily used.

  Next, the temperature profile in the heat treatment process will be described.

  In the heat treatment step, as shown in FIG. 2, first, the furnace temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature increase target temperature (: temperature increase step), and then the temperature decrease and the temperature increase are alternately performed in a predetermined heat treatment temperature region. It is important that the elevating / lowering cycle is performed at least twice (elevating / lowering cycle step) and then the cooling process is started.

The temperature raising rate in the temperature raising step is not particularly limited, but it is necessary to raise the furnace temperature so that the CaF ₂ crystal substrate 5 accommodated in the carbon container 4 does not break due to thermal shock such as cracking. Therefore, for example, it is preferably 10 ° C./h to 200 ° C./h.

It is important to set the temperature increase target temperature to a temperature within the range of 1000 to 1350 ° C.
At this time, if the target temperature rise is lower than 1000 ° C., it is not preferable because the effect of strain relaxation by heat treatment is difficult to obtain. Further, it is not preferable that the target temperature rise is higher than 1350 ° C., since it may start to melt or sublimate even if it is lower than the melting point of fluorite (about 1420 ° C.).
From such a viewpoint, it is more preferable to set the temperature increase target temperature within the range of 1000 to 1300 ° C, and it is even more preferable to set the temperature within the range of 1150 to 1250 ° C.

The temperature range in the ascending / descending cycle, that is, the heat treatment temperature range is preferably 900 to 1350 ° C., particularly 1000 to 1300 ° C., and the temperature is preferably lowered and raised alternately.
In this way, by alternately lowering the temperature and raising the temperature in the temperature range of 900 to 1350 ° C., a temperature gradient can be introduced into the CaF ₂ crystal, and this temperature gradient can be periodically reversed. Therefore, dislocations that are microscopic defects existing in the crystal can be reduced, the crystal homogeneity can be increased macroscopically, and the residual strain (strain birefringence) can be effectively reduced.

The temperature lowering and temperature raising in the raising / lowering cycle may be repeated so that the lower limit temperature at the time of lowering temperature and the upper limit temperature at the time of raising temperature are constant. Further, for example, the lower limit temperature at the time of temperature decrease may be set to increase or decrease every time the cycle is repeated, or may be set at random without specific regularity. Similarly, the upper limit temperature at the time of temperature rise can be set so as to increase or decrease every time the cycle is repeated, or can be set randomly without specific regularity.
Further, the switching from the temperature decrease to the temperature increase or the temperature increase / decrease in the ascending / descending cycle may be performed with a temperature profile that folds linearly, or a wave that folds into a curve and becomes a sin curve, for example. You may control temperature so that it may become a profile of a shape.

The temperature decrease and temperature increase in the elevating cycle may be repeated alternately in the temperature range higher than 1150 ° C., which is the superionic conduction transition point of the CaF ₂ crystal, for example, in the range of 1150 to 1350 ° C., Further, the temperature lowering and the temperature raising may be alternately repeated in a temperature region lower than 1150 ° C. which is the superionic conduction transition point of CaF ₂ , for example, in the region of 900 to 1150 ° C., but the most effective is This is a method of alternately lowering the temperature and raising the temperature over 1150 ° C., which is the superionic conduction transition point of CaF ₂ .
By alternately lowering and raising the temperature over 1150 ° C., which is the superionic conduction transition point of CaF _2, the movement of dislocations and crystal subboundary structures moving in the crystal as the temperature rises or falls is further promoted. Can be eliminated.
“CaF ₂ superionic conduction transition point” means a temperature at which CaF ₂ exhibits superionic conductivity.

The heating rate in the lifting cycle is preferably 1 ° C / h to 500 ° C / h, particularly 10 ° C / h to 100 ° C / h, and particularly preferably 30 ° C / h to 80 ° C / h. .
The temperature lowering rate in the lifting cycle is preferably 1 ° C./h to 500 ° C./h, particularly 10 ° C./h to 100 ° C./h, and particularly preferably 30 ° C./h to 80 ° C./h.

It is important that the number of cycles of the lifting / lowering cycle step is at least twice, preferably 2 to 10 times, and more preferably 4 to 6 times.
The total time of the lifting / lowering cycle step is preferably 2 hours to 100 hours, particularly 4 hours to 80 hours, and particularly preferably 14 hours to 50 hours.
Further, the time of one cycle of the ascending / descending cycle (cycle period), that is, the time of one cycle from the start of temperature decrease to the start of temperature decrease again through the temperature rising process is preferably 1 hour to 10 hours, particularly 4 hours to 8 hours is preferred.

<Cooling process>
In the cooling step after the heat treatment, strain birefringence and the like increase, so it is important to cool slowly over time. On the other hand, if too much time is spent, productivity is significantly impaired. From such a viewpoint, in the cooling step after the heat treatment, it is preferable to cool to near room temperature at a cooling rate of, for example, 0.1 to 5 ° C./h, particularly 0.5 to 1.5 ° C./h.

<Fluorite: CaF ₂ crystal>
According to the above manufacturing method, fluorite having the following optical characteristics can be obtained.

When a strain birefringence distribution at a wavelength of 633 nm was measured on a crystal substrate with a <100> orientation and the light incident surface was a (100) plane, the average value of strain birefringence values per thickness was 0.4 nm / cm. ˜1.8 nm / cm, especially 0.4 nm / cm to 1.1 nm / cm, in particular 0.4 to 0.9 nm / cm can be obtained.
Further, the difference between the maximum and minimum strain birefringence values at a wavelength of 633 nm per thickness (: PV) is 4.0 nm / cm or less, particularly 3.3 nm / cm or less, and particularly 1.2 or less. Obtainable.
Further, when a strain birefringence distribution at a wavelength of 633 nm was measured on a crystal substrate with a <111> orientation and the light incident surface was a (111) plane, the average value of strain birefringence values per thickness was 0.2 nm. / Cm to 0.4 nm / cm, in particular 0.2 nm / cm to 0.3 nm / cm, in particular 0.20 nm / cm to 0.22 nm / cm.
Further, the difference between the maximum and minimum values of strain birefringence at a wavelength of 633 nm per thickness (: PV) is 3.2 nm / cm or less, particularly 0.9 nm / cm or less, especially 0.7 nm / cm or less. Can be obtained.

<Application>
As described above, the fluorite obtained by the production method of the present invention is macroscopically crystallized in a <100> orientation crystal substrate or a <111> orientation crystal substrate, which is said to be easily strained and difficult to remove. Has high homogeneity and extremely low residual strain (strain birefringence), and can be used as various optical components such as optical lenses after being processed as necessary.

  The lens thus obtained can be used, for example, as an achromatic lens (apochromat), a TV camera lens, a microscope lens, an infrared analysis window material, a lens used in a semiconductor lithography (stepper, scanner) apparatus, or other optical lens. . In particular, since fluorite having high crystal homogeneity and extremely low residual strain (strain birefringence) can be obtained, a high-precision stepper, that is, an ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet such as an ArF (argon fluoride) excimer laser. It can be suitably used as a lens material for a stepper such as an exposure apparatus using a laser of a wavelength region as a light source.

Examples of the present invention and comparative examples will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to the contents described below.
First, a method for evaluating the obtained fluorite will be described.

<Measurement of strain birefringence value / distribution at wavelength 633 nm>
The distribution of strain birefringence in the CaF ₂ crystal substrate before and after the heat treatment was determined by using a strain birefringence measuring device (“ABR-10A” manufactured by UNIOPT Co., Ltd.) and the crystal substrate with <100> orientation (effective diameter in the table) And a plane is parallel to the (100) plane of CaF ₂ ) and a crystal substrate of <111> orientation (having an effective diameter in the table and the plane is parallel to the (111) plane of CaF ₂ ) For each, the measurement range (effective diameter) is measured at intervals of 5 mm, and the average value and PV value of the strain birefringence value in the <100> orientation crystal substrate, and the strain birefringence value in the <111> orientation crystal substrate. The average value and PV value were determined. At this time, the measurement was started after the crystal substrate was sufficiently adapted to the temperature (room temperature) of the room in which the measuring apparatus was installed.
Note that the magnitude of strain present in the crystal can be indicated by the distribution of strain birefringence in the crystal, and the optical path difference per unit length caused by strain remaining in the crystal is “strain birefringence”. is there.

(Example)
In this example, heat treatment and subsequent cooling were performed using a heat treatment furnace having the configuration shown in FIG. The same applies to the subsequent comparative examples.

A polygonal substrate that can cut CaF ₂ crystals grown by the Bridgeman-Stockburger method (BS method) in the <100> direction or the <111> direction and extract the effective diameter circles shown in Tables 1 and 2. To produce a <100> oriented crystal substrate and a <111> oriented crystal substrate. Both of these crystal substrates were stored in a carbon container 4 together with PbF ₂ as a fluorinating agent.

First, the inside of the heat treatment furnace is depressurized to form a vacuum atmosphere and the furnace temperature is increased to 400 ° C. at a rate of 40 ° C./h to remove oxygen gas and moisture in the furnace, and then Ar gas is put into the furnace. The heat treatment furnace was introduced to normal pressure and Ar gas atmosphere.
Thereafter, the furnace temperature was raised at a rate of 35 ° C./h to reach the temperature increase target temperature shown in Table 1 and Table 2, and then the temperature range shown in Table 1 and Table 2 (lower limit of the lifting cycle) In the upper limit), the raising / lowering cycle for alternately raising and lowering the temperature was performed for the number of cycles shown in Tables 1 and 2. The temperature raising time / speed and the temperature falling time / speed in the elevating cycle were made equal.
Subsequently, it was cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 3 ° C./h.

(Comparative example)
Similar to the above example, a crystal substrate with <100> orientation and a crystal substrate with <111> orientation were prepared, and both of these crystal substrates were stored in a carbon container 4 together with PbF ₂ as a fluorinating agent.

First, the inside of the heat treatment furnace is depressurized to form a vacuum atmosphere and the furnace temperature is increased to 400 ° C. at a rate of 40 ° C./h to remove oxygen gas and moisture in the furnace, and then Ar gas is put into the furnace. The heat treatment furnace was introduced to normal pressure and Ar gas atmosphere.
Thereafter, the furnace temperature was increased at a rate of 35 ° C./h to reach the temperature increase target temperature shown in Tables 1 and 2, and the temperature was held for the holding times shown in Tables 1 and 2. Thereafter, it was cooled to room temperature at a cooling rate of 3 ° C./h.

(Discussion)
In the results of Table 1 and Table 2, when the results of the example and the comparative example are compared and examined, in the heat treatment of the CaF ₂ crystal substrate, the temperature lowering and the temperature rising are alternately performed in a predetermined temperature range (900 to 1350 ° C. temperature range). It was found that by repeating the elevating and lowering cycle, fluorite having high crystal homogeneity macroscopically and very little residual strain (strain birefringence) can be obtained.
At that time, it was found that it is preferable to alternately perform temperature lowering and temperature rising across the superionic conduction transition point of CaF _{2 in} the lifting cycle.
Further, it has been found that the temperature increase target temperature may be in the range of 1000 to 1350 ° C., and is particularly preferably set in the range of 1100 to 1300 ° C.
Further, it has been found that the temperature region in the ascending / descending cycle, that is, the heat treatment temperature region may be a temperature region of 900 to 1350 ° C., and particularly preferably a temperature region of 1000 to 1300 ° C.

It is sectional drawing which showed an example of the heat processing furnace. It is the figure which showed an example of the temperature profile in a heat treatment process. A view of the CaF ₂ crystal substrate from the side, (a) is a diagram for explaining the crystal substrate of <100> orientation, (b) is a diagram for explaining the crystal substrate <111> orientation.

Explanation of symbols

1 airtight furnace 2 heat insulator 3 support 4 carbon steel container 5 CaF ₂ crystal substrate 6 heater 7 temperature sensor 8 temperature controller

Claims (2)

In the heat treatment of the CaF ₂ crystal obtained in the single crystal growth step , the temperature in the furnace is raised to reach the range of 1000 to 1350 ° C., and then the temperature lowering and the temperature raising are alternately performed in the temperature range of 900 to 1350 ° C. The elevating and lowering cycle is performed in a cycle period, that is, the time of one cycle from the start of temperature decrease to the start of temperature decrease again through the temperature rising process is set to 4 hours to 10 hours, and is performed at least twice, and then cooled. A method for producing fluorite. _2. The method for producing fluorite according to claim 1, wherein in the ascending / descending cycle, temperature lowering and temperature raising are alternately performed across 1150 ° C., which is a superionic conduction transition point of CaF ₂ .

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